Shell Global Business Leadership Programme

In 2009, we worked with Shell to introduce a development experience to prepare leaders for executive levels. This year saw 18 modules of the program delivered internationally and the programme has settled into an annual rhythm of around five 6-month programmes in Asia, the Americas and Europe.

The Group Business Leadership Programme is Shell’s global flagship development experience to prepare leaders for executive levels. This transition marks the shift from managing within a known functional area to leading across far wider boundaries and functional specialisations.

Challenge

Traditionally the programme combined an assessment/development centre and business school time. But Shell identified the strong need to enhance authentic leadership, emotional and relationship qualities in its senior managers. This was in line with a global culture change to focus on greater trust and relationship-building in the complex world in which an oil major is a player.The aims for our component of the programme was for leaders to:

• develop higher levels of authenticity as part of their style
• increase their ability to build high trust relationships

Approach

Each programme lasts a year or more, and consists of five phases, including:

• Three distance-learning phases which include coaching, peer learning and high-stakes business projects.
• Two face-to-face modules of a week each (Future Considerations deliver 2 or 3-day management/leadership modules which include:
  > Giving powerful feedback
  > Adapting styles of intervention
  > Coaching and creating authentic connection)

We deliver these in partnership with PDI (for assessment/development) and INSEAD (for business school content on strategy, stakeholders and alignment)

Delivery & Outcomes

Feedback on the programme has been very positive. We have seen substantial shifts in the personal and relational leaders of participants between the first and second classroom modules.